Hydrant cap



Dec. 1, 1-942. H. F. BENQIT 2,303,917

. HYDRANT CAP Filed Sept. 25, 1940 Sheets-Sheet 1 1a 7 5 r 21 l6 '0 17 I5 I! 22 12 2o '4- u w V1 5 :3 g

INVENTOR.

HENRY F. BENOIT ATTORNEY.

H. F. BENQIT HYDRANT CAP Dec. 1, 1942.

Filed Sept. 25, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR- HENRY F. BENOIT ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 1, 1942 UNITED STATES OFFICE 12 Claims.

This invention relates to caps for the nipples of hydrants and particularly to an improved cap of the type which is secured to the hydrant by a chain for preventing the loss of the cap.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a novel construction of cap for hydrants of the type having the cap chained thereto whereby the said cap may be secured to or removed from the hydrant Without danger of having the chain interfere with the attachment or removal of the cap.

Another object is to provide a novel construction of cap for hydrants of the type having the cap secured to said hydrant by a chain whereby the portion of the cap which is turned during the act of attaching or removing the cap from the hydrant is free to rotate independently of the portion of the cap secured to said hydrant by the chain.

Another object is to provide a cap of the above character which is protected against corrosion throughout the bearing surfaces between the stationary and movable portions of the cap.

Another object is to provide a hydrant cap of the above character with a coupling member rotatably supported within a housing and secured against displacement from said housing whereby the housing may be chained to the hydrant and the coupling member free to rotate so that it may be attached to or removed from the nipple of the hydrant Without rotation of the housing.

Another object is to provide a simple, efiicient and economical construction of cap of the above character.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and it will be apparent that many changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts Without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction and arrangement of parts shown and described as the preferred forms only have been given by way of illustration.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. I is a side elevation of a hydrant having a cap embodying the invention;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of the hydrant cap illustrated in Fig. I;

Fig. III is a sectional View taken as on line III-III of Fig. II and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. IV is a view similar to Fig. III of a modified form of the invention;

Fig. V is a plan view of a bearing ring used in the construction illustrated in Fig. IV;

Fig. VI is a plan view of another modified form of hydrant cap; and

Fig. VII is a sectional view taken as on line VII-VII of Fig. VI and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

It has been found from past experience that much difiiculty has been encountered in having the chains which anchor the hydrant caps to hydrants of the present day construction wind about the cap and prevent the ready removal thereof whenit is desired to couple a hose line to the hydrant. This difiiculty has been encountered in' many instances in the past and is one which is not only inconvenient but in many instances prevented the ready removal of the cap from the hydrant without a great loss of time and lost property due to said loss of time in being unable to remove the caps from the hydrants.

One of the prime objects of the present invention is to overcome this hazardous defect of prior art hydrant caps through the provision of means whereby the main cap portion may be quickly and easily removed without danger of having the same become entangled with the chain during said removal and which will yet. prevent the loss of the cap after having been removed.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views one of the caps embodying the invention, as illustrated in Figs. I to III inclusive, comprises a main cap portion l rotatably supported internally of a housing 2. The main cap portion I has an internally threaded portion 3 by which it may be secured to the'nipple 4 of the hydrant. This in ternal threaded portion may be of a continuously threaded or partially threaded type depending upon thetype of thread connection desired. The said main cap portion I has a stud 5 thereon which is provided with a central contour. The said stud 5has a pentagonal shaped protrusion 6 thereon to which a suitable wrench may be applied for attaching the cap to or removing it from the nipple 4. The said main cap portion I has a flanged portion 1 circumferentially' thereof whichfunctions as part of the means for rotatably supporting the said main cap portion internally of the housing 2. The housing 2, in turn, is provided with a central groove 8 in which the flange portion 1 is rotatably fitted. The cap portion 2 is divided into two sections 9 and I0- normally held in connected relation with each other by a plurality of screws, bolts or the like II. The portions 9 and II] are provided with communicating shouldered portions I2 and I3 which, when the portion I9 is secured to said portion 9 by the screws or the like II, forms a central groove in which a disc or the like I4 is mounted. The disc I4 may be formed of any desired metal such as steel, cast iron, bronze or any other desirable metals and is provided with a central opening forming a bearing for the stud 5. In many instances when the said disc I4 is formed of steel, cast iron or the like the said disc may be provided with an internal bearing I5 of bronze, or other suitable non-corrosive material. The purpose of this arrangement is to prevent possible corrosion and freezing of the stud 5 and main cap portion internally of the disc I4. The disc I4 is rotatably held in position on the stud 5 by means of a clamp washer or the like I6 which is secured to the stud 5 by a plurality of set screws or the like II. The said clamp washer I6 is preferably provided with a portion of its central opening IB shaped to fit the pentagonal projection 6 on the stud. This locks the clamp washer I6 against rotation when the main cap member I is rotated internally of the housing 2.

The disc I4 has an eyelet I9 threadedly attached thereto. This eyelet provides means to which the chain 29, which couples the cap member to the hydrant, may be attached.

The purpose of the flange and groove arrangement I and 8 is to aid in preventing water from entering into the bearing I5. This entrance of water is also prevented through the provision of a shoulder 2I on the stud 5 which fits within a recess in the clamp washer I6 which is similarly shouldered so as to receive the shouldered portion 2I of the stud 5.

When assembling the parts the disc I4 is placed on the central stud 5 and the clamp washer I6 is then placed on the end of the stud and in interfitted relation with-the pentagonal protrusion thereof and is secured thereon by the plurality of set screws II. Care is taken when the parts are assembled so that the main cap portion I, stud 5 and clamp washer I6 will be free to rotate as a unit relative to the disc I4. The assembled parts are then dropped into the portion 9 of the housing 2 so as to position the flange I internally of the central groove 8 and the disc I4 internally of the shouldered portion I3 of the member 9. The portion I9 is then placed over the assembly and secured in position by means of a plurality of screws, bolts or the like II. The communicating shouldered portions I2 and I3 which form a central groove in which the portion I4 is fitted are so dimensioned as to move into clamping relation with the disc I4 so as to hold it firmly in position internally of the housing 2. The eyelet I9 extends through an opening 22 formed in the assembled portions 9 and I9 and is attached to the disc I4 by a thread connection. If desired the opening 22 may be provided with a similar thread so that the eyelet I9 may be simultaneously threadedly connected internally of the opening 22 and to the member I4. This positively holds the main cap member I internally of the housing 2 and yet permits free rotation thereof in the bearing I5. With this arrangement the cap may be attached to or removed from the hydrant without the necessity of rotating the housing 2 to which the anchor chain 29 is attached and thereby obviates possible danger of having the chain become, wound on or entangled,

with the cap during the attachment or removal thereof from the nipple of the hydrant.

In Fig. IV there is illustrated a modification which comprises a housing 23 having a central bearing 24 of bronze or other suitable non-corrosive material. The main cap portion 25 which simulates the main cap portion I previously described is provided with a stud 26 rotatably mounted in the bearing 24. The stud 26 has a pentagonal protrusion 21. to which a suitable wrench may be attached. The housing in this instance is provided with a shouldered recess 28 in which is fitted a circumferential flange 29 formed on the main cap portion 25. The housing 23 in this instance is provided with a thread bearing 30 to which an exterior threaded collar 3| may be attached. The collar 3I may be provided with flattened outer surfaces 32 on diametrically opposed sides thereof to which a suitable spanner wrench may be applied to thread the said collar internally of the threaded bearing 30. A retaining ring 33 having diametrically oposed projections 34 thereon, as illustrated in Figs. IV and V, is preferably placed internally of the housing 23 prior to threading the collar 3| in position. The housing 23 is provided with diametrically opposed slots 35 in which the protrusions 34 are adapted to lie when the parts are assembled. The said protrusions are adapted to function as key members interlocking with the diametrically opposed slots 35 to hold the ring 33 against rotation. The shouldered recess 28 is adapted to function in cooperative relation with the ring 23 to provide a circumferential groove 1 in which the flange 29 is adapted to rotate. The

i bore 38 centrally thereof so as to provide a reduced central bearing surface 39. The collar 3],

internally thereof, is machined so as to provide a clearance 39a throughout the major internal area thereof and thereby allows only a relatively small bearing surface 3% to remain. This tends to lend ease of rotation of the main cap member 25 internally of the housing 23.

In Figs. VI and VII there is illustrated a further modification which comprises a main cap member 40 having a pentagonal protrusion 4| thereon and an internal thread bearing 42 for attachment to the nipple of the hydrant. In this instance, the main cap member is provided with a circumferential groove 43. A ring 44 formed of two divided sections 45 and 46 is rotatably supported in the circumferential groove 43. The said split portions 45 and 46 are preferably provided with recessed protrusions 41 and '48 through which suitable connecting bolts or the, like 49 extend to secure the sections 45 and 46. In this intogether to complete the ring 44. stance, one of the projections 48 is provided with a protrusion 50 having an opening 5| therein to receive the anchor chain 52. It is apparentthat with this arrangement the main cap member 49 is free to rotate internally of the ring 44 formed by the divided section 45 and 46 andj that by reason of the fact that the anchor chain 52 is secured to a protrusion 59 on said section j 45 of the ring 44 the possible danger of having the chain become twisted about the cap member 40 during the attachment or removal thereof from the hydrant is eliminated.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that simple, efiicient and economical means have been provided for accomplishing all of the objects and advantages of the invention.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the character described comprising a main cap member having an internal thread bearing and a reduced bearing stud thereon, a ring-like member rotatably mounted on said stud bearing, a housin clampingly connected with said ring-like member and shaped to overlie said ring-like member and main cap member with the bearing stud having a portion extending outwardly above said housing; said outwardly extending portion having flattened sides, said housing rotatably supporting said main cap member in assembled relation with said ringlike member and an anchor chain secured to said clampingly connected ring-like member and housing.

2. A device of the character described comprising a split housing, a disc secured between the divided portions of said housing, said disc having a central bearing, a main cap member in said housing having a, bearing protrusion extending within the central bearing of the disc, a clamp washer secured to said bearing protrusion for rotatably retaining said bearing protrusion and main cap member internally of said housing and means for securing an anchor chain to said housing.

3. A device of the character described comprising a split housing, a disc secured between,

the divided portions of said housing, said disc having a central bearing, a main cap member in said housing having a bearing protrusion extending within the central bearing of the disc, a clamp washer secured to said bearing protrusion for rotatably retaining said bearing protrusion and main cap member internally of said housing and means for securing an anchor chain to said housing, said housing having an internal circumferential groove and said main cap member having a flange fitting within said groove.

4. A device of the character described comprising a housing having a central bearing opening, a hollow main cap member having an internally threaded bore, an outer circumferential flange and a bearing protrusion rotatably fitting within the bearing opening in the housing and having a portion extending outwardly above said housing, said outwardly extending portion having flattened sides, said housing having a shouldered raceway internally thereof in which the circumferential flange of the main cap member is seated and means connected with said housing for rotatably retaining said flange in said shouldered raceway.

5. A device of the character described comprising a housing having a central bearing opening, a hollow main cap member having an internally threaded bore, an outer circumferential flange and a bearing protrusion fitting within the bearing opening in the housing and having a portion extending outwardly above said housing, said outwardly extending portion having flattened sides, said housing having a shouldered raceway internally thereof in which the circumferential flange of the main cap member is seated, means connected with said housing for rotatably retaining said flange in said shouldered raceway and means for securing an anchor chain to said housing. g

6. A device'of the character described comprising a housing having a central bearing opening, a hollow main cap member having an internally threaded wall, an outer circumferential flange and a bearing protrusion fitting within the bearing opening in the housing and having a portion extending outwardly above said housing, said outwardly extending portion having flattened sides, said housing having a shouldered raceway internally thereof in which the circumferential flange of the main cap member is seated, a bearing ring engaging a side of the circumferential flange and means for retaining said bearing ring and circumferential flange in position in said housing. 1

'7. A device of the character described comprising a housing having a central bearing opening, a hollow main cap member having an internally threaded wall, and outer circumferential flange and a bearing'protrusion fitting within the bearing opening in the housing and having a portion extending outwardly above said housing, said outwardly extending portion having fiattened sides, said housing having a shouldered raceway internally thereof in when the circumferential flange of th main cap member is seated, a bearing ring engaging a side of the circume ferential flange, means for retaining said hear.- ing ring and circumferential flange in position in said housing and means for securing an anchor chain to said housing,

8. In a device of the character described a hollow-housing member having a central bearing opening and an internal circumferential bearing surface, a main hollow cap member having an.

internally threaded wall, a bearing protrusion extending through and having a portion extending outwardly of the bearing opening in the housing and an outer circumferential flange fitting in the circumferential bearing surface internally of said housing, means connected with one of said members for rotatably securing said cap-like member in said housing with the circumferential flange portion engaging the circumferential bearing surface inwardly of the housing, said portion extending outwardly of the bearing opening having flattened sides and attaching means extending outwardly of the housing to which an anchor chain may be secured.

9. In a device of the character described a housing composed of two sections having interengaging edge portions adapted to be secured together and having inner shouldered portions communicating with each other to form a circumferential groove, one of said portions having a bearing opening therein, a main cap member having an internally threaded portion and a bearing protrusion terminating in an end portion having flattened sides, a disc-like member having a central opening fitting over the bearing protrusion and having its contour edge portion clampingly secured in the circumferential groove formed by the joined shouldered portions of the housing sections and a clamp washer secured to the bearing protrusion of the main cap member and having a portion lying between said disc-like member and the Wall of the housing section having the bearing opening therein, the

portion of the bearing protrusion having the flattened sides being so dimensioned as to extend outwardly of the clamp washer when the parts are in assembled relation with each other.

10. In a device of the character described a housing composed of two sections having interengaging edge portions adapted to be secured together and having inner shouldered portions communicating with each other to form a circumferential groove, one of said portions having a bearing opening therein, a main cap member having an internally threaded portion and a bearing protrusion terminating in an end portion having flattened sides, a disc-like member having a central opening fitting over the bearing protrusion and having its contour edge portion clampingly secured in the circumferential groove formed by the joined shouldered portions of the housing sections and a clamp washer secured to the bearing protrusion of the main cap member and having a portion lying between said disc-like member and the wall of the housing section having the bearing opening therein, the portion of the bearing protrusion having the flattened sides being so dimensioned as to extend outwardly of the clamp Washer when the parts are in assembled relation with each other and means extending outwardly from the disc-like member to which an anchor chain may be secured.

11. In a device of the character described a "cap-like housing having a bearing opening therein and an internally threaded wall portion, a

main cap-like member threaded internally and having a bearing protrusion fitting within the bearing opening of the housing and terminating in an end portion having flattened sides extending outwardly of said housing, said housing and said main cap-like member having interengaging bearing surfaces internally of said housing and means threadedly connected with the internally threaded portion of the housing for retaining said portions of said housing and said main cap-like member having engaging bearing surfaces in assembled rotatable relation with each other.

12. In a device of the character described a cap-like housing having a bearing opening therein and an internally threaded wall portion, a main cap-like member threaded internally and having a bearing protrusion fitting within the bearing opening of the housing and terminating in an end portion having flattened sides extending outwardly of said housing, said housing and said main cap-like member having interengaging bearing surfaces internally oi said housing, means threadedly connected with the internally threaded portion of the housing for retaining said portions of said housing and said main caplike member having engaging bearing surfaces in assembled rotatable relation with each other, and means for securing an anchor chain to said housing.

HENRY F. BENOII. 

